It is not excluded that the demands of the “No to Plunder” group would become more during the struggle. This was told to Aravot.am by “No to Plunder” Coordination Group member Sofia Hovsepyan, noting, “Because looting happens in Armenia every day, and it is continued in a very ugly way.” “No to Plunder” movement treats the statement of the President of Armenia to conduct an audit with ENA positive, and initially also reacted positively to the offer of the president to be involved in the audit, but later discrepancies happened: one part was for and the other was against it. To our question of what decision is made by the group, Sofya Hovsepyan assures, “No to Plunder” movement will not participate in the audit to be conducted at the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).”
As presented by the Coordination Group member, they had announced that they still do not know whether they will participate in the audit, or not. “Not knowing was not an end in itself, but we are not experts, and we did not know what the participation would provide. If we are not experts and the members of “No to Plunder” group are allowed to participate in the audit, let’s assume if the guys were going, what they will do. We went from door-to-door, and began discussions with the economists, power engineers and lawyers and asking theirs and the public opinion, we found out that all of them answers that if the audit is not multilayered, then it is meaningless.” Sofia Hovsepyan also assured that the group has the report of the 2- year audit of the ENA, which they do not want to make public for now, but according to this audit, the situation with ENA for these 2 years was dire, and if nothing was changed after this audit, then what makes sense to once again conduct a financial audit and spend money again.
To our question of maybe the experts mentioned by them will participate in the audit with them or instead of them, Sofia Hovsepyan replied, “I personally have talked to the outdoor experts. I have talked to the expert on the phone who had conducted the audit, and he said that we cannot be inside during the audit process, the experts will be working with numbers and mathematical figures, we will be probably in the next room, outside, and they will come out to tell figures. Now, what’s the difference whether we are there or the experts sent by us?” As observed by Sofia, their participation will not change anything, and they cannot control the audit process. The three demands of the “No to Plunder” initiative are as follows: 1. To review and annul the illegal decision of the Commission on the electricity tariff. 2. To review the last year rate for reducing it. 3. To punish all law-breaking police officers who illegally beat the peaceful protesters in Baghramyan Avenue. As well as to punish those who gave such illegal commands to them.
Nelly BABAYAN
